August 23, 2013

GILBERT TAYLOR

Every filmmaker hopes their viewers will be left with indelible images, which will play over and over in the mind like a narrative transfusion. The great cinematographers achieve this gift of imagination and the truly great photographers even define the sensibilities of their time. Gilbert Taylor was such an artist. Starting his career in the late 1940s, he went on to shoot the quintessential movie images of the 1960s and 1970s. Taylor lensed some of the most iconic projects from Swinging London, including The Beatles in A Hard Day's Night, Peter Sellers in Dr Strangelove, Polanski's Repulsion, and Emma Peel's heartbreaking departure in The Avengers. His work with Dick Lester and The Beatles provided a dynamic document of the band in motion and captured their trendsetting vibe with cutting-edge, stylish photography. Gilbert was the motion picture equivalent to visionaries like Robert Freeman, Richard Avedon, Dezo Hoffman, and David Bailey. His footage serves as a kind of cultural Rosetta Stone of cool for future generations. Here is the opening sequence of A Hard Day's Night:

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SPY VIBE

Secret agents, bachelor pads, and mini skirts! This is Spy Vibe, where the baby boom, the space race, and the cold war influenced style in the world of fashion, film, design, music, and beyond. Welcome to the secret lair of well-dressed mystery & adventure, and Sixties culture- then & now. Over one-million visitors!

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Jason Whiton

Jason Whiton is an award-winning writer, artist, educator, and the creator of Spy Vibe, a website devoted to Cold War design and pop culture that has seen over a million visitors. His publications include Rolling Stone, USA Weekend, and the book, Mort Walker Conversations. Whiton's work as a screenwriter and filmmaker has been recognized by the Nicholl Fellowships (Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences), PBS, and major film festivals and museums. His most recent piece is a music re-mix and award-winning film for Yoko Ono. Whiton's spy novel about a 1960s fashion model, MIKI ZERO, will be released soon. The story is inspired by his passion for Ian Fleming and the culture of Japan, where he lived for many years.
Jason loves creative projects & collaborations, and he enjoys helping young people to explore their lives as artists. He teaches Art in San Francisco.